ADHD is a mental disorder that usually begins in the early years of childhood, between the ages of 7 to 10. This mental disorder alters the way children feel, think and act. Most children that are affected by ADHD show signs of nervousness and hyper activity. When these children are at home, their behavior can be so extreme and on-going that they disrupt—on a daily basis–a calm and routine family life.
There are no known causes of ADHD but some researchers suspect there are certain factors that may trigger ADHD such as: heredity, brain changes, a head injury or a chemical imbalance in the brain.
In addition, some suspect that environmental factors could also cause ADHD such as smoking during pregnancy or drinking alcohol. Some also think that children who are exposed to lead—lead that sometimes is found in paint or plumbing fixtures– can lead to ADHD.
Some also feel that sugar could cause ADHD. Research has been conducted by giving children foods that had a high level of sugar in it every other day; however, no different behavior was found in these studies. Also, research has been done by British researchers, looking for a possible link between food additives—preservatives and food coloring—to the hyper activity found in ADHD children. No conclusive evidence has been found but research continues.
Children who suffer from this illness also have a hard time concentrating and often do poorly at school. Other symptoms associated with this illness are: a short attention span, poor coordination, a personality that is inflexible, poor self-esteem, taking too many risks, are impulsive, have poor sleeping patterns but usually have a high IQ. However, because the child can’t concentrate, he or she gets poor grades.
It is important to note that there is no test available that can diagnose ADHD but information that is shared with a health professional that comes from teachers, parents, physicians or other mental health professionals, can help. The health care physician will also ask the parents if the child’s behavior is continuous and appears on a daily basis or if the behavior is a temporary one. He or she will also ask if the ADHD behavior occurs on the playground, at home or in the classroom.
An evaluation by a family’s physician—one who understands a child’s behavior and development– will also help because an assessment of the child’s neurology will reveal any inadequacies and lead to an accurate diagnosis.
When a parent suspects that his or her child has ADHD, a parent’s interview is required. The interview will help the physician to understand if there were problems with the birth, if there were certain events that happened to the child as he or she aged, the child’s medical history and the home life of the child. The child’s teacher may also be interviewed to find out how the child behaves in class.
Children of ADHD can lead a relatively normal life but will—throughout his early and teen years– need the help and support of his or her family, doctors and educators.